The Cupertino City Council voted to renew the voluntary cap of $28,000 for campaign expenditures.

Council candidates in the 2014 election can choose to spend less than $28,000 on their respective campaigns. If candidates indicate in writing their intention to abide by the limitation, a black diamond will be printed by their names on the sample ballot.

Since 1997, the council has set voluntary campaign expenditure limits for each election. The limit would have no force of law, according to city staff.

The 2014 election will be in November and will be the first year in which the Cupertino general municipal election will be consolidated with the statewide general election. The council voted 4-1 in February 2013 to move elections to even-numbered years.

Three council seats will be up for grabs. Councilman and two-time mayor Orrin Mahoney is terming out. Councilman Mark Santoro will be trying to complete a partial term he began serving in 2008, and Councilman Barry Chang will be able to defend the seat he earned in 2009. Councilmen Rod Sinks and Gilbert Wong earned their seats in 2011 and their seats will be contested in 2016.

Commission vacancies

The city has an opening each on its bicycle-pedestrian and public safety commissions.

Bicycle-pedestrian commissioner Ashish Kolli recently resigned, and residents are invited to apply for the position.

The city has set an application deadline of May 30 at 4:30 p.m. The city council has scheduled interviews for June 10 at 5 p.m. and will select someone to fill the vacancy. The the term runs through January 2015.

The bicycle-pedestrian commission reviews, monitors and suggests recommendations for city transportation matters including, but not limited to, bicycle and pedestrian traffic, parking, education and recreation within Cupertino, according to the city’s website.

The commission consists of five members appointed by the council to overlapping four-year terms. Members must be Cupertino residents. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Public safety commissioner Lily Lim has also resigned. The council recently conducted interviews for the public safety commission and, instead of an application process, plans to invite back the 13 candidates interviewed tand make a selection. The term runs through January 2016.

The public safety commission consists of five members appointed by the council to overlapping four-year terms. The group’s primary functions are to advise the city council on all areas relating to public safety, traffic and police, fire and other similar matters, according to the city’s website.

Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at city hall.

For more information about city commission positions or to apply to the bicycle-pedestrian commission, visit cupertino.org.